Union for Reform Judaism / Jewish Holidays
Jewish Holidays

Diagram of Jewish Holidays Calendar Learn about the Jewish holidays and explore the customs and traditions of Reform Jews throughout North America. Union congregations invite you to visit their websites to learn how they weave celebration and tradition into their communities. We are pleased to share this information with you and wish you a chag sameach!

View the Calendar of Jewish Holidays


The Jewish Home: A Guide for Jewish Living provides a detailed explanation of Jewish holidays and home rituals.

Join the conversation about ways to celebrate Shabbat on our blog .

The Jewish holidays are often discussed on iWorship, the Union's listserv for worship issues.Visit the iWorship Wisdom page to read excerpts, and subscribe to the listserv.

Discuss the Holidays on RJ.org  

Modim anachnu lach

By Gardening Grandma  It's the last weekend before Thanksgiving, the first weekend when there's no more pretending that winter's cold and dark days are not just around the corner. But...

Hanukkah's A Comin': Check Your Local Listings

By JanetheWriterWith more than a week to go until Thanksgiving, we're already well into the incessant advertisements for Barbies, Chia Pets, Pictionary, Scrabble, and, of course, the seasonally popular Norelco electric...

Lashon Tova

By Larry KaufmanA recent discussion in these precincts about Lashon Hara, intended to present a Jewish "take" on permissible and impermissible political discourse, gave rise to a peripheral discussion about...
Upcoming Jewish Holidays  
December 2008
12/22 to 12/29 - Chanukah
Chanukah, meaning "dedication" in Hebrew, refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Macabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem.
February 2009
02/09 -  Tu BiSh'vat
Tu BiSh'vat or the "New Year of the Trees" is Jewish Arbor Day. The holiday is observed on the fifteenth (tu) of Sh'vat. Scholars believe that Tu BiSh'vat was originally an agricultural festival, marking the emergence of spring.
March 2009
03/10 -  Purim

Is your congregation doing something special for the holidays or Shabbat? Is the holiday information on your website especially user-friendly? Send a description or the URL to worship@urj.org. If you would like further information about holiday observance and traditions, please contact us.